Lady Wolves players Kendra Meissner (left) and Jamie Early ran a shooting drill at the team practice on Monday, as the squad prepared for this weekend's scheduled games in Metlakatla.
Ethan Blatchley moves in the team practice last Friday, as the Wolves prepped for this weekend's games in Metlakatla.
After several weeks without games due to bad weather or spikes in COVID-19 cases in other towns, the Wrangell High School boys and girls basketball teams are eager for scheduled games against Metlakatla on Friday and Saturday.
It has been a truly unique season for the Wrangell Wolves and Lady Wolves.
The Wolves began their season at the end of January, with two games against their rivals, the Petersburg Vikings. The Lady Wolves began their season against the Craig Lady Panthers in early February. The Wolves got in a round of games against Craig, as well, but since then neither team has been able to play due to COVID-19 or bad weather that prevented travel.
"It's been a battle," said Wolves' Assistant Coach Graham Gablehouse.
Players Tyson Messmer and Ethan Blatchley agreed it has been a strange season, and they are eager to play again. In particular, they said they are excited for the Southeast regionals, which are scheduled to begin March 26 in Ketchikan.
"With all this going on, we're doing the best we can," Blatchley said. "It's hard."
Lady Wolves Coach Christy Good said that despite the cancellations and challenges this season, things have gone well for the team. They are a small team this year, including two middle school girls who were allowed onto the team, but the players work together well.
Despite the dry spell of games, she said they have kept practicing and scrimmaging to keep their skills sharp.
"We are looking forward to our games against Metlakatla this weekend, if we get to go," she said. "We're also looking forward to regions. I feel like our team will do well."
Lady Wolves players Jamie Early and Aubrey Wynne agreed with their coach that the players have bonded well. Early said she did not think they would get as far as they did with everything going on this year, but they have come together. She is confident in her team's performance, she
said. Wynne, one of the middle school players, said she has enjoyed playing at the high school level.
"Personally, I love high school basketball," she said. "It's way better, more mature than middle school basketball."
Barring another cancellation, both teams are scheduled to travel to Metlakatla for games Friday and Saturday. Carly Williams, with Metlakatla High School, said Friday's games will begin with the girls at 5:30 p.m., followed by the boys at 7:15 p.m.
Saturday, the girls will play at 9:30 a.m., followed by the boys game at 11:15 a.m.
The games will be streamed at the Annette Island School District YouTube channel, Williams said: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCkVBsfQQlXfiEhAGAJCJsLA/featured.
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